Manifold heater for internal-combustion engines



Sept. '6, 1927. 41,728

A. G. BRIDGFORD ET AL MANIFOLD HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES'Filed July 5, 1925 4 Sheets-Shet -1 voooov'ao ll M I l ll /7 i! \f -24 ll5 INVENTORS v I 1v: I M

. is (a m AT'TORAIEVY.

Se t. 6 '1927.

p A.'G. BRIDGFORD ET AL MANIFOLD HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINESFiled July/3, 1925' 4 Sheets-Sheet 2' I INVEN 0R5 mgfiwflim win I WATORNEY.

A. G. BRIDGFORD ET AL MANIFOLD HEATER FOR INTERNAL COMBU STION ENGINESSept. 6, 1927. V 1,641,728

Filedfiuly s. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet s va 0 o 0000 INVENTORfiJ M (rem- QMATTORNEX 1,641,728 Sep 14927 A. G. BRIDGFORD ET AL MANIFOLD HEATER FORINTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES Fi led Ju1y .5. 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IIEI 7Iv C I M ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 6, 1927.

NET- stars nnate rat ARCHIE Gr. BRIDGFOB-D AND SIDNEY BOL'II.OI\'1', OFALEDO, ILLINOIS; SAID SIDNEY B.

BOLTON ASSIGNOB TO SAID ARCHIE G. BRIDGFORD.

MANIFOLD HEATER roe INTERNAL-COMBUSTION enemas.

Application filed July 3,

Our invention has reference to a manifold heater for internal combustionengines, and has for its purpose to provide a novel and efficient meansfor initially heating the intake manifold of an engine under the moreunfavorable conditions attendant upon low temperatures, and therebyexpediting the starting of the engine. It seeks to improve upon asimilar device for which Letters Pat-' ent of the United States No.1,427 ,059 were issued to us August 22nd, 1922. In said former device itwas undertaken to determine a proper charge of fuel oil to be used inthe heating operation by means of a sys tern of valves, but thesevalves, and the proper spacing thereof, required careful adjustment,and'the same were liable to get out of order. They were therefore notentirely satisfactory. In the present invention it is sought todetermine the proper amount of oil to be used by means of a measuringchamber, into which a small quantity of the hydro-carbon is drawn fromthe float-chamber, and from which it is expelled by a displacementoperation. I

Another feature of the invention consists in the positioning of theheater and float chamber in such a manner with relation to each other,that in the event of the float chamber-being flooded at any time, thecontents thereof will not find its Way into the heater by force ofgravity or otherwise, so as to interfere with the perfect operationthereof. Another feature of the invention consists in a closeassociation of the heater devices and fuel mixing parts, resulting in acpmpact structure, and permitting a convenient positioning of the floatchamber, for the purpose of supplying fuel both to the intake manifoldand to the auxiliary heater therefor.

Another object thereof is to provide a novel air supply mechanism, forfurnishing a desired quantity of fresh air to the heater devices, saidmechanism being so constructed and arranged as to preclude the danger ofa current of air therein interfering with the proper action of theburner, or extinguishing the flame thereof.

Another purpose thereof is to provide a device which can be applied toan intake manifold disposed in a horizontal position, or one that is ina vertical position.

The above-named, and other features and.

1925. Serial No. 41,412.

advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings,'inwhich l Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the float chamber and measuringchamber, on the broken line 11 of Fig. 3. i i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary vertical, section on the broken line 22 of Fig.3.

3 is a plan view ofthe invention.

Fig. 4 is a detail of the plunger'operating devices. a

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the same line as Fig. 2, but in theopposite direction.

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the broken line 66 of Fig. p

Fig. 7 shows a modified arrangementof the invention partially insection, as. the same is applied to a vertical intake pipe.

The reference number 1 indicates a tubing, in the lower part of which isa mixing chamher 2, said tubing being projected at an angle into anintake pipe 3, or manifold, adapted for connection with an engine of theclass mentioned. v(Fig. 6.) In the lower end of the chamber 2 is an airintake 4, and in the upper part thereof is a throttle valve 5,controlled by a lever 6. Adjacent to the lower end of thetubmg 1 isafloat chamber 7 of".

usual construction, and provided with means of communication with asource of liquid fuel supply. Said float chamber is also incommunication with the chamber 2, so'asto furnish thereto a supply ofhydro-carbon, to

be mixed therein with the current of air to form the successive vaporcharges for the engine. p

Partially. enclosing the'intake manifold 3 is a casing 9, in the lowerpart ofwhich is centrally supported a burner ring 10, by means ofsupports 11 connecting said ring and the wall of the casing at regularspaced intervals. The ring is of double forma-' tion, containing a space12 in which is acircular wick 13. The lower end of the space 12communicates through a passage 14; with a measuring chamber 15 supportedat one side of the casing 9, said chamber being also connected with thefloat-chamber 7 through a channel 16, (Fig. 1). The passage 14 isnormally closed by a plunger 17, on the end of a stem 18, projectedupwardly througha plugv19 on the end of the chamber. 15., between whichand a collar 2O on said stem is interposed an extensile coiled spring21, the

tension of which operates to holdtheplunger 17 in the upper partof thechamber 15. The stem and plunger are capable of being depressed by meansof a bell-crank lever 22, fulcrumedonthe side of the casing 9, as at a,and provided with an operators rod 23 which may extend to the instrumentboard of the automobile, or other point convenient for operation.Extending through the plunger 1.7 is an opening 24, shown in brokenlines, perinittgingv the passage of fuel oil in the chamberi15 from thelower end thereof by means of. a. spark-plug29 in a seat- 30 in thecasing 9, the point 81 of said sparkplug, being in close: proximity tothe upper end of the burner ring 10, so as to cause a spark-between saidparts, upon the sparkplug-being energized.

V current. of air is. supplied to the space' 8 3below theburner 10 bymeans of a pipe 34, at oneeside of the casing 9, and connectediat itsupper. end with a chamber 35,

provided with screened openings 36, through which the outside air;enters said chamber. After entering the, space 33 the air passesupwardly on both the interiorand. exterior "of the burner ring, the partgoing outside thereof passing between the supports 11 and through aperforated; plate encircling V the burner. The part oftheair which,enters the burnerv passes upwardly through openingsin the sides of acylinder 38, the upper endi of-w hich isclosed'by a plate. 39. Thiscauses, a spreading of, the inner current of air into the path of theflame, producinga more perfect combustion,together with the airpassingalpwardly outlieoutside of the flame. The. heat thus generatedisdirected against and about thepipe 3, rapidly raising the temperaturethereof, and of the gflfies passing through the. same. The ex;

haustgases pass outwardly througha cone tracted l opening 41 in the topof the casing 9, said opening being partially. enclosed; by a mufller.formed of. atop plate 43, secured tothefcasing '9 ,l andperlforated sideplates 44; Saidfmuflier is seatedjustabove the air intake cha nber 3 5,and separated therefrom y a P te. One. f. t afi a ti n 2 1f. aid matter.is. be. Prev t b wk. dra r u casing; 9, such. ElShnlgllt tend to .extin' s shi e' flem i f. the. rine! there n.

Ii g hegoper t eao i 1. 'e ..o. -i hisf.. .i cl

it is only necessary to, have the flame in operation for a hmlted amountof time, un-

til the parts become sufficiently heated to operate satisfactorily, andthe chamber is provided with a sufficient capacity to hold the desiredamount of fuel oil for such purpose. T/Vhenthe plunger 1,? is in itsnormal position the lower part of'the chamber will be filled from thefloat chamber, and when it is desired to conduct such charge to theburner mechanism the plunger is. forced downwardly, the oil. in thelowerpart of; the. chamber passing upwardly through the opening 24, and,after-the plunger has moved. downwardly. a, suflicient distance touncover the channel 1%, the charge passes through such channel to theburner.

The parts. arev so, arranged that the. channel 14. will be about on alevel with the upperpart. of the float-chamber, so that in the event of.the float-chamber beingflooded; an. excess of theoil could not forceitself into. the burner compartment, to interfere with the operationtherein. 9

In Fig. 7. is, shown an arrangement of the invention for useQwith anintakeimanifold having in part a ,verticalpipe as shown at 46. Thegeneral arrangement of the parts is the sa nev as in the constructionhereinbefore. set. forth, except that a. casing. 47 and burner ring 48of. relatively greater diameter are made use, of, to accommodate thepipe lti in the center. thereof. The pipe 416, is provided'withanenlargement 49, from which a perforated casing 50 extends downe wardlyto the inner face of the burner. ring. The current of. air. passingupwardlyon the lnslde of the burner, passes through said perforationsand. mixes withthe air passing upwardly on the outside of the burnenring, the enlargement 49 actingas. a spreader therefor, In the upperpart of; the casing 47 is. an air intake chamber 51, from which the airis conducted downwardly to achanr, ber 52, in the lowen part of. thecasing, as in theformer construction. The cha nberftil surrounds an,outlet, 53 for. the exhaust. gases. from which outlet the gases passintov a chamber 5.4L, and outwardly through. open: ings in the wallsthereof. This arrangement substantially the same. as in the other form.except that the pipe 46 extends up-. wa rdly. through the, tgpof, thechamber '54. The;burner is supplied with fuel from a float-chamber 55,passing. through; nieas} U Y g. l F b l". 5 in communi at n. w th: heburner through apass age .57, the ,oillbein g conducted from themeasuring chamber to the burner. n the: man er e einbef r de: scribed:-Means for vaporizing thelfuel and igniting the same are. also providedOther: changes. can be "made-in the con.- struction and arrangement ofthe invention, without departing fromthe. spirit thereof;

a et er f ersiie What We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is:

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a casing andmanifold pipe extending therethrough, a burner mechanism in said casing,in proximity to said manifold, means for supplying a current of air tosaid casing, a fuel measuring chamber connected with said burnermechanism adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of liquid fuel,and a perforated plunger in said chamber capable of transferring saidliquid fuel from one end of said chamber to the other, for passage tosaid burner mechanism. 2. In a manifold heater, a casing for enclosingthe manifold, a burner-ring supported in said casing, so as to permitthe passage of air through the center and at the sides thereof, meansfor conducting a current of air through said casing, a measuring chamherin communication with said burner, and adapted to receive apredetermined quantity of liquid fuel, a displacing member in saidmeasuring chamber, and means for the manual operation of said displacingmember.

3. In a manifold heater, a casing for enclosing the manifold, means forconducting a current of air through said casing, a burner mechanismsupported in said casing in proximity to said manifold, having a centralopening and spaces on the outside thereof for the passage of said aircurrent, an air distributing member centrally of said burner mechanism.means for conducting successive measured charges of fuel oil to saidburner mechanism, means for expediting the vaporization of said fueloil, and means for the ignition thereof.

4. In a manifold heater, a casing for enclosing the manifold, a burnermechanism within said casing, means for providing said burner mechanismwith a current of air, an oil feed chamber in communication with saidburner mechanism, a plunger held normally in one end of said chamber,and provided with means for the passage of said oil from one end of theplunger to the other,

ing and in communication With said floatchamber, means for providingsaid casing with a current of air, a measuring chamber in communicationwith said float-chamber, a burner mechanism in said casing, providedwith means for communicating with said measuring chamber. at a pointabove the highest point in said float chamber, means for conducting thecontents of said measuring chamber in successive charges to said burnermechanism, andrmeans for igniting the vapor formed in said casing.

6. In 'a manifold heater, a casing for enclosing the manifold, a burnermechanism supported in said casing in proximity to said manifold, a fuelchamber communicating in one direction With a source of fuel supply andin the other direction with said burner mechanism, a plunger perforatedlongitudinally operable in said chamber to transfer a charge of fueltherein from one end thereof to theother, said plunger normally closingthe communication between said chamber and the burner mechanism, andmeans for actuating said plunger.

7. In a manifold heater, a casing for enclosing the manifold, a burnermechanism supported in said casing in proximity to said manifold, an airsupply passage entering the lower end of said casing and having anintake above the same, a muffler device in communication with the upperpart of said casing, above said intake, and means for supplying saidburner mechanism With successive charges of liquid fuel.

In testimony Whereof We affix our signa tures.

ARCHIE G. BRIDGFORD. SIDNEY B, BOLTON.

